Downtown Erie's summer block parties 'successful,' well-attended

Dan Baney, of the band, Refuge, of Waterford, entertains the early evening gathering on State Street in front of Scully's Pub, in Erie, for the the last Downtown Block Party of the season Sept. 1. ROB ENGELHARDT/ERIE TIMES-NEWS

Still, it was fun while it lasted. For 10 Thursdays throughout the summer -- from June to Thursday night -- large crowds turned out for Erie Downtown Partnership's annual downtown block parties.

Thursday night's last party of the summer was no exception outside Scully's Pub, 408 State St., where a crowd of several hundred rocked out to Next of Kin's country-influenced sound.

Karen Danowski, of Edinboro, was having a great time as she danced in front of the band's stage at Fourth and State streets.

She attended all 10 block parties this summer and said she was disappointed that her favorite Erie summer event was concluding.

"This is worth the trip to Erie,'' she said. "I love the music. These are the only events I can get to because of my work schedule. I like meeting people, hanging out and seeing people I haven't seen in a long time.''

The statistical summary of the parties -- attendance, money raised for local charities, the tonnage of recycled material collected, etc. -- is still being calculated, but block party organizers already know they were a hit.

"The block parties have been very successful," said Brenda Sandberg, chief executive of the Erie Downtown Partnership. "The attendance has topped over any other year. Most of that is due to the weather and also because it's a popular summer attraction."

Sandberg said it will take a couple of weeks to analyze this summer's turnout, then planning for next summer's block parties will begin.

Like Roar on the Shore and CelebrateErie, the block parties have become an inseparable part of downtown Erie's summer, said Bev Walker, manager and co-owner of Sherlock's and Park Place. The parties have also steadily improved since they began in 2004 when just a few blocks participated.

"They just got bigger and bigger, and every year it's growing," Walker said. "It's a nice mix of people. It's just been a great vibe. I'd say it's the best thing that's happened to the downtown in the some 30 years I've been here."

Frontman Terry Woods remembers the sweltering heat when his band, Geek Army, performed with Kristen and the Cosmonauts outside Park Place and the Boardwalk Complex on July 21. The thermometer in his car read 100 degrees during setup, he said.

"It was the hottest day of the year," he said. "But it was great. We thought there wouldn't be so many people because of the heat.

"It was jam-packed."

Decisions for 2012 are already being made. Walker has already enlisted Geek Army to play at the 2012 block party -- there's just no question that the block parties will continue.

"Not anymore," Walker said. "Everybody just enjoys coming out to the block parties. Even when the weather was not cooperative, people still came out. People want to be outside."